Revised Common Lectionary

Jesus is taken up into heaven. The Holy Spirit is given to us. We read, in John 7:39, that ‘the Spirit’ would not be ‘given’ until Jesus was ‘glorified.’ Now, as Jesus was about to be ‘taken up... into heaven’, He tells His apostles, ‘the Holy Spirit’ will ‘come upon you’ (Acts 1:11, 8). He gives them His Word of promise: ‘I send the promise of my Father upon you’. He gives them His Word of command: ‘stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high’ (Luke 24:49). They wait upon the coming of the Holy Spirit. They cannot fill themselves with the Spirit. They can only ‘be filled with the Spirit’ (Ephesians 5:18). Waiting for the Spirit, the apostles ‘devote themselves to prayer’ (Acts 1:14). They do not earn the Holy Spirit as a reward for spending much time in prayer. Waiting on God, their strength is renewed as they receive God’s gift (Isaiah 40:31; Luke 11:13). Jesus is taken up into heaven. May His Name be exalted in all the earth. ‘Be still,...

"Husbands, love your wives, just as also Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her" (Ephesians 5:25). Human love is grounded in divine love. "I love you" is grounded in "God loves you." We look to Jesus Christ. We see the love of God. His love for us inspires our love for one another.

Ephesians 1:1-2:10 Lord, You call us to live a holy life. We cannot do this in our own strength. True holiness does not come from ourselves. It comes from You. It comes from Your love. Your love reaches us. Your love changes us. Your love is stronger than our sin. May Your love inspire us to live a holy life. May Your love enable us to live a holy life – a life that brings glory to You, the God of our salvation. Ephesians 2:11-4:6 When You, Lord, are at work in us, everything changes. You save us. You sanctify us. You strengthen us. Help us to serve You. Ephesians 4:7-5:14 Lord, You want us to “grow up in every way into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). You want us to “walk in love” (Ephesians 5:2). You want us to live a life that is “pleasing to You” (Ephesians 5:10). Why do we settle for something less than Your very best? Help us, Lord, not to “grieve Your Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:14). When we hear Your wake-up call – “Awake, O sleeper … ” (Ephesians 5:14), help us to...

"Be strong in the Lord ... " (Ephesians 6:10). “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” ( Ephesians 6:10 ). As we consider the war which is going on in our lives – between God and Satan, we will see that this is the greatest war of all. The most cruel war ever fought by men is child’s play compared with this spiritual war, in which we battle against Satan, the enemy of our souls. To win a battle – even one as bloody as the two World Wars of the twentieth century, and lose the war against Satan is to be  defeated. What about our world today? Are we a winning the battle, and losing the war? We dare not take pride in the fact that we have known more peace than in the years of the two World Wars. God is asking us, “Are you winning the real war, the most important war, the war against Satan?” We need not lose the war. We can be “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” – our Lord Jesus Christ ( Romans 8:37 ). Is thi...